Time really does go by quickly. I have reached my one-year anniversary writing for this distinguished publication and I'm certainly grateful for the opportunity to continue. I have been given the freedom to opine on topics of my choice. I started out providing opinions on current trends in politics. There is no shortage of opinions on that subject and certainly no means of consensus. There were weeks when I had to sift through the many topics for which I had an opinion to find the one story that irked me the most so I could follow everyone else writing about a subject that, at the end of the day, changed no one’s mind and kept me mad about how stupid the whole news cycle has become.

If you have been following me over the year, however, you should notice I stopped somewhere along the way and changed my focus to more positive and, I hope, helpful articles. I finally decided that I was not going to let other stories, many of which showed complete ignorance and lack of facts, ruin my day, my attitude, and ultimately, my life, by attempting to fight over something in which sides were already drawn.

As for my opinion, it seems those who share political views, including me early on, add more to the rhetoric and less to the real dialog. It is difficult to find so-called news stories, let alone opinion articles, that are based on real facts or truth, regardless of which side seems to be favored. The left will remain on the left and the right will remain on the right and neither my opinion of those views or any others will sway anyone to change his or her mind. Rhetoric for the sake of rhetoric is, well, a real time waster and serves no real value.

Since all that opinionated rhetoric did nothing for me than keep me angry all the time, I needed to make a change. I like to think that I now provide facts and stats that I hope offer positive and, at times, entertaining, benefits to my readers. I have spent (or hoping the correct word is invested) almost all of my life in workplace and personal safety and health to help people of all ages remain safe and maintain a respectful quality of life. I wish to continue that since this helps me stay upbeat while desiring to help others in their life journey, as well.

People are allowed their opinions and have the freedom to express them. I am choosing to keep my opinions coupled with my knowledge and skills out of the daily fray, if you will, to live a much more peaceful and calm life than to get all tangled up in a total waste of time that, at the end of the day, ruins my joy while stoking not-so-good feelings and behaviors in others.

So, in my humble opinion, I look forward to writing for you and hearing from you.